Family Practice Vol. 17, No. 3, 276-277
© Oxford University Press 2000
Book Reviews |
General practice and ethics: uncertainty and responsibility.
GP Earby, GP Tutor Burnley, NW Region, UK
How much ethical teaching did you get as a medical student? What about as a registrar. How about in the last 5 years? Is it time for a refresher or perhaps even an introduction? The title General Practice and Ethics: Uncertainty and Responsibility certainly sounds relevant. Do the contents live up to expectations? This is not an introductory book, but it provides insights and questions that are relevant to all who are involved in family practice.
The book is an edited series of chapters written by those involved in academic general practice in the UK. It is, however, relevant to those working in other health care systems. The first part of the book is devoted to themes. A series of chapters exploring uncertainty and responsibilities, evidence-based medicine, ethico-legal dilemmas, confidentiality and patient-centredness provide a different approach from the classic texts on biomedical ethics. This method works in that, although very concise, the authors outline several different models for dealing with dilemmas. The ‘themes' section finishes with a discussion of ethics and post-modernity. This for me was the chapter I had to re-read to get a grasp of it (to be honest I am still not sure I have yet understood all the concepts.)
The second half of the book deals with several specific topics: prescribing, depression, advance directives and, finally, research. For most of us, the first three are important, the first two being very common—and both these chapters produced new insights into these common problems. The chapter on advance directives is a useful reader on a topic that promises to be an ethical maze when one is faced with a real case. The chapter about research may not be relevant to everyone, but is certain to be of increasing importance.
Summing up then, this book is good value, well written and relevant to experienced practitioners. It can be dipped into or read cover to cover. Of note are the contemporary nature of the topics and the relevance of the whole volume to the practising family doctor. It makes a useful contribution to the literature.
Notes
C Dowrick, L Frith (eds). (207 pages, £14.99.) Routledge, 1999. ISBN 0-415-16499-0.
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